Andrea Kimi Antonelli is officially headed to Mercedes.
While his status for 2025 remains a matter of speculation, with many believing Mercedes will announce at the Italian Grand Prix that the young phenom will be driving alongside George Russell next season, the team did confirm on Monday that Antonelli will participate in FP1 on Friday. Antonelli will be driving Russell’s W15 during the first practice session at his home race.
The young driver called the opportunity “special” in the announcement from the team.
“Taking part in my first FP1 is going to be really special,” said Antonelli. “I’m really excited to drive the W15 and share the track with so many amazing drivers. I can’t wait for it!”
Antonelli, who currently drives for Prema in F2, sits seventh in the F2 Drivers’ Championship standings. He has a pair of wins on the season, one in the F2 Sprint Race at the British Grand Prix, and one in the F2 Feature Race at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
F1 rules require each team must sit each of their drivers for a practice session during the season, and allow a driver with less than two Grand Prix starts to participate. This is part of the sport’s program designed to prepare younger drivers for their own days on the F1 grid.
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff, who let the FP1 news slip on Sunday after the Dutch Grand Prix, also threw some cold water on another bit of speculation weaving its way around the paddock. As rumors swirl around Logan Sargeant’s status at Williams — with reports surfacing that Team Principal James Vowles could replace the driver before the season is over — Wolff dismissed any idea of Antonelli driving at Williams this year.
“That’s not going to happen,” Wolff told Sky when asked about Antonelli driving for Sargeant.
But we do know Antonelli in the W15 will happen this weekend, and if the rumors are true, the young phenom will be in the W16 next season.
https://www.sbnation.com/formula-one/2024/8/26/24228703/andrea-kimi-antonelli-mercedes-f1-italian-grand-prix
